Thursday 8-23-12 Parent Warm-Up

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Thursday 8-23-12Parent Warm-Up

• Read the poem on your desk titled What is a
  Middle Schooler?.
• Choose a pair of lines that best describes your
  child.
• Explain why you choose the lines.
• This is optional! ? Please leave the poem on the
  desk for the next class if you choose not to
  complete the warm -up.
• Your student has a walk in warm up every day to
  get them started. They are worth class work
  points and are collected every other week.

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Welcome to 8th grade English Language Arts

• This is my 15th year teaching 8th grade English
  language Arts at Altadeña!
• I moved to Arizona from Maryland 15 years ago,
  and I have a degree in Secondary Education and
  English. My husband and I have three kids Kaylen
  will be 11 in September and is in 6th grade here
  at Altadena. Nathan will be 8 in October is
  starting 2st grade. Kamryn is 3 years old and was
  born on April Fools Day.
• I love to spend time with my family, read, and
  go to the beach.
• Welcome to 8th grade!

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Kaylen, Nathan and Kamryn
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The Willever Family
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Structure of English Language Arts

• Structure
• Monday Library Day ?
• Wednesday - Writers Workshop time to write
  independently with a specific expectation/goal
  (Writing tools, techniques, mini-lessons)
• Thursday weekly homework due (GLR or vocab)
• Friday quiz/test day (GLR or vocab) and SSR
  if time allows

• Classroom
• The whiteboard shows the plans for the week and
  is the same as the webpage.
• The blackboard will have the learning goal and
  the plan for the day.
• Grades
• Assessment (writing, reading tests) 80
• Practice (homework classwork) 20

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New Common Core

• The Common Core State Standards - a shared set of
  clear educational standards for English language
  arts
• -Reading (Literature and Informative text)
• -Writing (arguments, informative/explanatory,
  narrative, research)
• -Speaking Listening
• -Language
• -designed to ensure that students graduating from
  high school are prepared to go to college or
  enter the workforce

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Reading and Language

• Literature and Informative Text
• Novels The Giver, The Wave, The Diary of Anne
  Frank (play), Something Wicked This Way Comes
• Advanced ELA -Fahrenheit 451, Animal Farm, Lord
  of the Flies, Romeo and Juliet (Please
  considering purchasing buying these classics
  novels.)
• Elements of Literature Textbook short stories
  and informational text
• Informational Text Friday ?

• Vocabulary Holt Vocabulary workbook or packet
• Greek and Latin Roots GLR packets
• Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics Elements of
  Language text and Write Source textbook

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- Reading continued

• Independent Reading Program students set
  individual goal each quarter between 500-1,000
  pages
• -Reading Log due on Friday 9/28/12 for first
  quarter!!
• -along with Reading Log there is a literary
  analysis due on Wednesday 9/19/12
• In addition to any homework given in ELA you
  should be reading each night!
• Readers Workshop SSR on Friday after quiz (if
  time)
• You should have a book to read at all times.
  Library check out every other week!

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Writing

• Types of Writing
• Argument - prompt responses, paragraphs, letters
• Informative/Explanatory summary, writers
  workshop prompts, friendly letter
• Narrative real or imagined
• Expressive Identity narrative pages,
  reflections
• Literary Response - Quarter Analytical Responses
  conflict, theme, character and a literary
  elements of your choice and
• Research - project

• Writers Notebook - Composition notebook that
  will be comprised of ALL writing including
  samples, notes, pre-writing, rough drafts and all
  responses.
• Also includes vocabulary, grammar, and reading
  responses.
• Wednesday Writing Workshop each Wednesday we
  will write ?
• Six Traits - assessment tool for writing
• FAT PP approach to analyzing prompts
• Writing Tricks style and voice of writing

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Important Information

• Website
• -reach it through the school website
• -weekly agenda is on the team page with all
  other core classes (includes classwork,
  homework, tests/quizzes, and due dates)
• Email Address
• twille_at_kyrene.org
• Classroom Phone Number (voice mail)
• [phone]
• Tempe Union High School District Testing
• -Application and testing is SOON!
• -Pamphlet was given to students with all
  information.

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How Can you Help

• You are the most influential person in your
  childs life. Your presence is evidence of your
  commitment to your childs success.
• Ask your child to share one part of his or her
  day with you (sweet/sour, highs/lows)
• Check the website and online grades.
• Let me know when things go right.
• Read with your child.
• If you have any child specific questions,
  please email me.
• Look for progress reports 4-5th week.